NORTH Wales Police has launched a campaign to help tackle homophobic hate crime.

The force says every year it receives reports of homophobic hate crime related to alcohol.

In order to spread the word that hate crimes will not be tolerated, beer mats have been distributed across North Wales with the words: “Homophobic abuse, physical or verbal, is a criminal offence, North Wales Police will not tolerate homophobic abuse...and you shouldn’t either...report it,” in both English and Welsh.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, of the National Assembly for Wales, launched the campaign, with acting Chief Constable of North Wales Police Clive Wolfendale and Liz Morgan, of Stonewall Cymru, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity.

Lord Elis- Thomas said: “It is important to make it clear to perpetrators that this, and other forms of hate crime, will not be tolerated and to encourage victims to report incidents to the Police.”

Jenny Porter, for Stonewall Cymru, added: “I hope victims of homophobic abuse will take heart from this initiative and report it.